RELEASE: Speaker Gunn on House, Senate Signing Teacher Pay Raise Conference Report
Jackson, MS—Today, House and Senate conferees signed a conference report on House Bill 504 (HB504) providing for a teacher pay raise.
“As I stated the before Session started, House Republicans wanted to give teachers a pay raise,” said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. “It has taken a lot of hard work, but I am proud to say we have accomplished our goal.”
The House Republicans proposed a teacher pay raise plan that would have given $4,250 to teachers over four years. The last two years would have been contingent on revenue growth. The Senate’s plan provided a $2,500 raise over two years with all pay raises beyond those two years contingent on a merit-based pay system.
“We have gone back and forth with the Senate,” said Speaker Gunn. “They were unwilling to go beyond $2,500 over two years, but they did agree that all pay raise dollars go into the teachers’ pockets and not be used for other expenditures. The House Republicans have fought hard to ensure hard-working teachers get a pay raise over the next two years. I want to thank House Education Chairman John Moore for leading the effort on this pay raise. I also want to thank Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves, Senate Education Chairman Gray Tollison and the entire Senate for working with us.”
Conference report details:
· $1,500 starting July 1, 2014.
· $1,000 starting July 1, 2015.
· A merit-based pay system for teachers in the third year for “A” and “B” schools or any school that improves one letter grade in a year.
· The legislature will develop a pay plan for high-performing teachers in “C”, “D” and “F” schools by the third year.
· Money must be spent on teacher salaries and cannot go toward equipment.
3/31/14
Magnolia Tribune
